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Letters by pre-Smiths Morrissey set for auction
Letters written by Morrissey as a teenager, before he formed The Smiths, will be auctioned in London with a combined estimate of £22,000. The correspondence offers an early view of his ambitions, humour and developing literary voice, while documenting Britain’s punk scene and political atmosphere in the 1970s.
Written to Birmingham pen friend Simon Pitt between 1974 and 1979, the letters cover Morrissey’s encounters with musicians including Patti Smith and members of the New York Dolls, his criticism of the Sex Pistols, and his brief role as vocalist with Manchester band The Nosebleeds. They will be sold as separate lots at Dawsons Auctioneers’ Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters sale on 26 August; the final letter describes joining a London band with a recording contract.
In short
- Pre-Smiths Morrissey letters are expected to fetch £22,000.
- They reveal his early musical ambitions and cultural observations.
- The archive goes under the hammer in London on 26 August.
Explained simply
Morrissey became the lead singer of The Smiths, an influential British rock band of the 1980s, but these letters were written years before that success. The correspondence spans 1974 to 1979, during his teenage years, and documents his interests, ambitions and early development as a writer.
The letters discuss his encounters with notable musicians of the period and his involvement in early bands, including a brief role as vocalist with The Nosebleeds. They capture the spirit of 1970s Britain during the punk era and reveal Morrissey's distinctive voice, wit and sharp observations. They provide a real snapshot of how an influential artist developed during his formative years.
These documents are valuable because they show Morrissey's personal development before his major success and offer insight into British youth culture and music during a significant moment in rock history. They are historical records from the 1970s punk scene written by someone who would become prominent in music.